Walking through the doors of Goshen High School for the first time was like walking into a movie. The school was easy to navigate around and I already knew where my locker was. I studied the map several times prior to the first day so I wasn’t screaming ‘incoming freshman.’ I had lots of older friends so I knew which teachers to get to know and which to avoid. I knew many faces because the district is so small; my graduating class was about 252 students. I had a hopeful outlook on the four years ahead of me. Looking back, I was naïve to be so excited, but I made it through by giving myself goals and developing good relationships with my teachers.
The way I explain high school is simple: each year got progressively worse. Freshman year was shellshock; no one truly prepares you for the transition being made. I’m not friends with anyone anymore that I was close with as a freshman, nor am I the same person that I was. I had three honors classes freshman year, two out of three being sophomore classes. I was ahead of the game, which is where I’m most comfortable, but the classes put an abundance of stress on me. I found myself studying often, something I didn’t do much of until the eighth grade. I became an insomniac from a combination of staying up late doing homework and worrying about my grades.
I thought sophomore year would be better for me since I was acclimated as a high school student. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was taking three honors classes again. Chemistry Honors and Trigonometry Honors were notorious for being the most difficult classes offered in GHS, and the rumors were true. My chemistry teacher was not only tough, but pregnant. She was moody and couldn’t stay after school often to help; teachers emphasize that as high school students, help is offered but the student must make the approach. This became nearly impossible, and chemistry was the class where I needed help the most. She called out frequently and when her baby was due in March, she left us far behind in the curriculum. In my opinion, her leave-replacement was a better teacher than her. Mrs. T was knowledgeable, friendly and passionate. She truly loved teaching students, a trait that my teacher lacked. It made all the difference; my grades improved and I scored highly on the Regents state exam at the end of the year. It was the first time I noticed how a teacher’s style and personality could affect my success.
I tried to stick to the books and get good grades. It wasn’t healthy how stressed out I was and it took a toll on me. Somehow I managed to turn that negative energy into determination, and I began to look forward to the future. Along with two honors classes and one AP class, I researched colleges. My guidance counselor—who saw a lot of me towards the end of high school—assisted me in the process. I studied hard, paid attention in class, and stayed after with teachers frequently. I decided that instead of letting my world come crashing down, I was going to prepare for a better journey ahead.
I thought senior year would be a breeze. I’m not sure why I thought that; I signed up for two AP classes and one college class run by the local community college. I was in school all day; very few seniors had a full schedule. Senior year was neither fast nor fun for me, but I learned so much. If I had to put a date on it, senior year was when I became a deep learner. I always did my work and studied, but I can recall many topics I learned about in each of my classes that year.
I bonded with all of my teachers, which were helpful during the college application process. I trusted that the two teachers I chose to write my recommendations would do me justice; they didn’t let me down. I also retook the SATs in October of my senior year, I took two subject tests, and I applied to a total of thirteen universities.I worked harder during my senior year than any previous year.
I take pride in my work ethic, but I regret how much I let it affect my health. I had two jobs during high school, teaching taekwondo and working at Adidas, along with cheerleading and clubs. I did enough to get involved but I had a lot of responsibilities and not a lot of free time. It was hard for me to relax since I spent every waking hour working, studying, or participating in an activity.
As I reflect, I am satisfied with ‘high school Victoria.’ I didn’t have a typical high school experience with lots of parties and social outings, but I prepared myself well for the workload of a college student. I learned how to obtain the knowledge I studied and how to make connections with people of all ages. These skills will help me as an undergraduate student trying to maintain high grades and as a graduate student looking to be respected by employers in a work setting. High school wasn’t ever easy, but I made the most out of it.
The way I explain high school is simple: each year got progressively worse. Freshman year was shellshock; no one truly prepares you for the transition being made. I’m not friends with anyone anymore that I was close with as a freshman, nor am I the same person that I was. I had three honors classes freshman year, two out of three being sophomore classes. I was ahead of the game, which is where I’m most comfortable, but the classes put an abundance of stress on me. I found myself studying often, something I didn’t do much of until the eighth grade. I became an insomniac from a combination of staying up late doing homework and worrying about my grades.
I thought sophomore year would be better for me since I was acclimated as a high school student. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was taking three honors classes again. Chemistry Honors and Trigonometry Honors were notorious for being the most difficult classes offered in GHS, and the rumors were true. My chemistry teacher was not only tough, but pregnant. She was moody and couldn’t stay after school often to help; teachers emphasize that as high school students, help is offered but the student must make the approach. This became nearly impossible, and chemistry was the class where I needed help the most. She called out frequently and when her baby was due in March, she left us far behind in the curriculum. In my opinion, her leave-replacement was a better teacher than her. Mrs. T was knowledgeable, friendly and passionate. She truly loved teaching students, a trait that my teacher lacked. It made all the difference; my grades improved and I scored highly on the Regents state exam at the end of the year. It was the first time I noticed how a teacher’s style and personality could affect my success.
I tried to stick to the books and get good grades. It wasn’t healthy how stressed out I was and it took a toll on me. Somehow I managed to turn that negative energy into determination, and I began to look forward to the future. Along with two honors classes and one AP class, I researched colleges. My guidance counselor—who saw a lot of me towards the end of high school—assisted me in the process. I studied hard, paid attention in class, and stayed after with teachers frequently. I decided that instead of letting my world come crashing down, I was going to prepare for a better journey ahead.
I thought senior year would be a breeze. I’m not sure why I thought that; I signed up for two AP classes and one college class run by the local community college. I was in school all day; very few seniors had a full schedule. Senior year was neither fast nor fun for me, but I learned so much. If I had to put a date on it, senior year was when I became a deep learner. I always did my work and studied, but I can recall many topics I learned about in each of my classes that year.
I bonded with all of my teachers, which were helpful during the college application process. I trusted that the two teachers I chose to write my recommendations would do me justice; they didn’t let me down. I also retook the SATs in October of my senior year, I took two subject tests, and I applied to a total of thirteen universities.I worked harder during my senior year than any previous year.
I take pride in my work ethic, but I regret how much I let it affect my health. I had two jobs during high school, teaching taekwondo and working at Adidas, along with cheerleading and clubs. I did enough to get involved but I had a lot of responsibilities and not a lot of free time. It was hard for me to relax since I spent every waking hour working, studying, or participating in an activity.
As I reflect, I am satisfied with ‘high school Victoria.’ I didn’t have a typical high school experience with lots of parties and social outings, but I prepared myself well for the workload of a college student. I learned how to obtain the knowledge I studied and how to make connections with people of all ages. These skills will help me as an undergraduate student trying to maintain high grades and as a graduate student looking to be respected by employers in a work setting. High school wasn’t ever easy, but I made the most out of it.